KR20030066675A - Dispensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hand-held device (1) for administering a meter dose of drugs such as drugs, medical drugs, therapeutic drugs and applying these drugs to the skin of a host animal. The device 1 comprises a hollow body 2 which can be held by a user's hand and a drug capsule 4 mounted in the body. The capsule 4 comprises a drug container 5 and a nozzle 10 through which the drug is possibly administered in the form of a spray. The device 1 also comprises actuator means 6, 9 which are connected to the inside of the drug container 5 and are operable to administer a meter of drug through the nozzle 10. The actuator means 6, 9 may comprise a hand pump 6, or may comprise a valve which is selectively operable such that the pressurized contents in the container 5 are not discharged in aerosol form. The pump 6 can be operated via an actuator button 9 in the case of a hand pump, and the valve can be opened through the operation of the actuator button 9 in the case of a valve. The device 1 also comprises means for preventing or minimizing the unwanted loss of the stored drug. In one aspect, the means comprises a closure member 20 operable to open and close the nozzle outlet. In another embodiment, the means comprises an absorbent pad 31 in which an initial amount of drug is deposited and then removed so that the device 1 can operate normally. In the case of using the closure member 20, means are provided to force the member to ensure effective closure of the nozzle outlet. The drug exiting the nozzle 10 is housed in a shroud 13 which functions to allow the drug to be dosed to be confined to a predetermined target site and also to position the nozzle 10 at a suitable distance from the target site.

Description

Dosing device {DISPENSING DEVICE}

Dosing means preparing a drug, combining it in a single dose so that it reaches a target site in the body, is administered at an effective concentration, is absorbed in a timely manner, does not cause addictive side effects, and is in a comfortable form for the patient. It is a process. Transdermal administration is widely accepted as an effective means of administration.

Conventionally, transdermal dosing systems have used occluded patch devices that adhere to the skin for extended periods of time such that the drug is delivered at an effective concentration across the skin into the bloodstream. However, transdermal patches are problematic. Such problems include problems such as inflammation on the administration side, deterioration of the appearance of the user, complicated manufacturing process, and limited flexibility in changing the dosage. Adhesive transdermal matrix patches may include preparing a potion, mixing the adhesive thermally, precisely coating on the release liner, carefully drying the patch (testing is required during several procedures), patch backing It requires complex and important manufacturing steps including laminating, die cutting to different patch dimensions, and final packaging into foil lined blister packs (Jenkins AW Developing the fematrix ^™ transdermal patch. Pharm. J 1995 Vol 255 Aug 5 pp 179-181).

While attempts have been made to overcome the above problems by reusing conventional non-occluded topical solutions such as gels, creams and lotions, the use of these solutions for transdermal administration inevitably limits their application to a wide range of transdermal drug users due to low transdermal flux. do. Gels, creams, and lotions also suffer from cumbersome administration methods such as difficulty in controlling the dosage during administration, too long drying time on the skin, and significant delivery of medicine from the patient to the other party. Accordingly, U.S. Patent No. 6,299,900 (Dermal Penetration Enhancers and Drug Delivery System Involving Same) overcomes the above limitations of conventional transdermal dosage systems (e.g., patches, gels, creams, lotions). An improved non-occlusive, volatile, non-volatile transdermal dosage system is provided.

The above problem has led to the development of a controllable application of volatile, non-volatile liquid compositions to the skin, such as for example applications of obstructive spray-on bandages disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,113,008. The device has the problem that it does not provide a means of preventing the actuator nozzle from being blocked by the preferred film forming sprayer during normal use, and is also limited by the axial nozzle orientation of the device to substantially apply only to the forearm. That is, the patient does not want to lie down during the operation of the device for application to other conventional sites such as the abdomen, upper hips, thighs. This approach may have the additional problem of lack of dip-tube pickup from a liquid reservoir containing a potion as described in US Pat. No. 5,624,060, but adds significant cost compared to the use of the apparatus described in US Pat. No. 6,113,008. Can be complicated. The device is also dependent on the exit of the dosage shroud, which is open to the atmosphere to prevent any pressure resulting from the use of the preferred pressurized nebulizer and which results in spray drift resulting in the loss of some of the dosed drug.

United States Patent No. 6,261,274 describes another dosage device that depends on distance-measuring means for controlling the distance and direction of the actuator nozzle from the skin. The device has the problem of limiting the possibility that the angle and / or distance of the actuator nozzle to the skin may change despite the use of a flat face at the end of the distance-measuring means which is pressed against the skin during use. This is in fact because the surface area of the feature needs to be limited to prevent invasion onto the dosed drug plume during normal use of the device. The typical length required for the distance-gauge means that it can be nearly negligible if any stabilizing effect is achieved during normal use, because the distance-measuring angle limits the general compliance of the skin surface, the contact surface area to the distance-gauge This is because, as well as the doubled problem, even small changes in the distance-gauge angle are susceptible to angular changes due to the lever mechanism effect of the actuator's distance and angle to the skin. The device described in US Pat. No. 6,261,274 has the problem that the patient needs access to the actual area to which the medication is to be applied, which is a forearm in which the spacer leg is placed on the skin but the drug is sprayed into the air and the skin is lost together. Application to is particularly problematic. Thus, the device is very likely to change the surface area to which the medication is to be applied and the possibility of passing the subject administration site.

Drug dosage devices of the type described above can result in significant loss of drug while using the device. This loss is particularly evident when using volatile drugs. Undesired loss of drugs is a waste, and the ability of the device to accurately dose the meter every time the device is operated may also be impaired. In this regard, accurate weighing can be very important in some cases.

As with the device disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,299,900, there is a need for a device that can be dispensed so that volatile, nonvolatile compositions can be accurately spread to low volume levels, typically 1 to 10 microliters per square centimeter of application area. There is also a need for a dosage device having means to prevent initial loss (or loss of residual amount).

The present invention relates to an apparatus for administering drugs such as drugs, drugs, or therapeutic drugs, and applying these drugs to the skin of a host animal (eg, a human). In particular, the present invention relates to a device capable of administering a metered amount of a drug in the form of a spray or spray. More specifically, the present invention relates to transdermal administration of a drug, in particular a liquid comprising a physiologically active agent.

1 is a side view showing one example of a dosage device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2.

4 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing a lid disposed over the outlet of the device.

6 is a side view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 5.

7 is a cross-sectional view of the lid shown in FIG.

8 is an enlarged view of the distal end of the lid stem of FIG. 7 and the surface associated with the distal end.

9 is a cross-sectional view of another form of a lid that may be used in the device of FIGS. 1-3.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a drug dosage device having means for preventing or minimizing unwanted loss of the drug. Another object of the present invention is to provide a drug dosage device that can accurately administer a meter of drug during use. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a drug dosage device having a means which is sufficient to fill a drug that can be administered prior to general use of the device. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dosage device which is particularly suitable for use in the transdermal administration of a drug.

In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a hand-held device for administering a drug and applying the drug to the skin of a host, the device forming a hollow body, a drug capsule mounted within the body, a portion of the capsule. The container for the drug, a spray nozzle, actuator means connected to the interior of the container and operable to meter a meter of the drug through the nozzle, and selectively operable to open and close the nozzle such that the drug is discharged from the capsule. And closure means capable of controlling what is to be done.

The transdermal spray dosage device according to the invention may be filled with drugs in the form of single phase volatile / nonvolatile liquids provided in standard plastic and / or glass containers (according to the nature of the active ingredient). Device manufacture of one of the preferred forms is relatively simple, can be simple in structure, and uses “standard” parts for primary pharmaceutical packaging. This contrasts with the complexity of manufacturing the occlusion patch device described above.

In a preferred form of the device, the nozzle outlet is in communication with a space formed in the shroud of suitable configuration and dimensions. Such shrouds are particularly useful in the case of transdermal administration of drugs because they can assist in ensuring that the administered drug is limited to the desired site of interest. The shroud provides a completely sealed enclosure over the subject area to reduce the risk of spray drift, ie the risk of losing part of the drug to be administered. The shroud can also function as a distance adjusting device. That is, when the open spout of the shroud is combined with the surface surrounding the desired target site, the distance between the target site and the outlet of the spray nozzle is preferably equal to the ideal distance at which the drug should be sprayed onto the target site. .

The "sealed" and other parts of the specification referred to in the paragraph above do not require that they not be completely exposed to the atmosphere. Preferred shrouds are “sealed” in the sense that they do not have openings deliberately formed through the outer edges or sidewalls (eg, as in the device of US Pat. No. 6,113,008) desired to be joined against the surface surrounding the subject site.

The nozzle closing means may be formed on or provided by a cap suitable for closing the open spout of the shroud when the device is not in use. For example, the closure means may comprise an elongate stem extending outward from the cap wall. This arrangement may allow the ends of the stems away from the cap wall to engage in and / or around the nozzle outlet when the cap is in place on the shroud. The cap wall is flexible and preferably elastically distorted when attaching the cap to the shroud. This generated stress in the cap wall pushes the closing stem against the nozzle outlet, thus maintaining a suitable closing force between the stem and the outlet.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drug dosage device having means capable of sufficiently filling a drug to be contained in the dosage system of the device for discharge when the device is operated in a normal manner. In this regard, the term “fill sufficiently” is to be understood to include substantially the same amount of drug as the desired meter of discharge from the device when operated in a modified manner.

While the device is not in use, a condition called "initial loss" may occur in the dosing system. One cause of this initial loss is the evaporation, especially when volatile drugs are used. As a result, air occupies a space in the dosing system that must be occupied by the drug. Thus, when the device is then operated to discharge the drug, the emission is less than the desired meter quantity.

In order to be able to sufficiently fill the drug to be released, the device according to the second aspect of the invention may be provided with means for absorbing the drug before use. Prior to normal use of the device, the absorbing means are placed in alignment with the nozzle outlet and the device is operated to direct the drug prior to use towards the absorbing means. This ensures that the medication system of the device is sufficiently filled. By preventing the absorbing means from being exposed toward the nozzle outlet, the device can be operated to discharge the desired amount of drug.

The absorbing means described above can be exchanged with the closure means of the first aspect of the present invention. That is, neither the nozzle closure means nor the initialization means as described above need be provided in the apparatus. Each of these means has the ability to control the initial loss so that the efficiency and efficiency of the drug dosage device is improved. On the other hand, the device can be combined with both closure means and initialization means if desired.

The device according to another aspect of the invention described above may be disposable or rechargeable. That is, in one form, these devices may be discarded as a whole when the contents of the capsule are exhausted, while in other forms, the capsules may be in the hollow body of the device so that the capsule can be removed and replaced with a sufficiently filled capsule. Removably mounted.

In addition, in the device according to any one of the two aspects of the invention, the shape of the actuator means may vary depending on whether the drug is administered by a manual pump or a nebulizer type process. In the case of a hand pump, the pump may form part of the actuator means. In the case of a nebulizer type process, the actuator means may comprise a valve operable to connect the pressurized contents of the nozzle and the drug container.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are merely illustrative of how the present invention may be practiced, and it should not be understood that certain forms and arrangements of the various features shown are limiting the invention.

The exemplary dosing device 1 shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a hollow body 2 having a chamber 3 (see FIG. 3) that houses a replaceable drug capsule 4 in some cases. The contents (drugs) of the capsule 4 are selected to suit the desired use of the device 1. In the exemplary figure, the capsule 4 comprises a drug container 5 and a hand pump 6 (see FIG. 3) for administering a meter of drug. Other arrangements, such as nebulized dosing devices, may be employed, in which case a suitable control valve (not shown) may be provided within the top of the capsule 4, or in some other convenient portion.

In a preferred application of the device 1, the drug contained in the container 5 comprises a physiologically active agent in solution form and an accelerator selected such that the active agent is well absorbed through the skin of the host (eg, a human). . The solution contains a volatile solvent while the promoter is preferably nonvolatile. In one application of the device, the promoter may be octyl salicylic acid.

However, the drug is forcibly pulled out of the device and is preferably applied to the target site with a relatively low volume level. For example, the drug may be applied in the range of 1 to 10 microliters per square centimeter of the subject site.

As shown in Fig. 4, the body 2 is preferably formed of two different parts 2a, 2b. These parts are joined to form the chamber 3 when connected together as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, and any suitable means can be used to releasably connect the two parts 2a, 2b. In the arrangement shown, the pin 7 provided on the portion 2a is suitable for fitting into the complementary hole 8 provided in the portion 2b (see FIG. 4). The pins 7 and the holes 8 are joined so that the parts 2a, 2b are not inadvertently separated.

In the particular arrangement shown, the actuator button 9 is movably mounted on the body 2 so as to be accessible at the upper end of the body 2 (see FIGS. 1, 5 and 6). The button 9 cooperates with the pump 6 so that the pump 6 operates by pressing the button 9. When the pump 6 is operated, the drug exits the container 5 and is discharged, possibly in the form of a spray, through the outlet nozzle 10 associated with the pump 6. In the arrangement shown, the button 9 has an opening 11 arranged over the outlet nozzle 10 and aligned with the outlet passage 12 of the nozzle 10 so that the drug to be administered can exit. The pump 6 operates in a known manner to squeeze the contents of the drug container 5 so that the metered amount of drug is forced out through the nozzle 10.

The shroud 13, which preferably has a generally conical shape, can be connected to the body 2 side adjacent to the nozzle 10. The shroud 13 is arranged to surround the drug spray exiting the nozzle 10 and may act to limit the spray so that all or most of the drug is applied onto the desired site of interest. Thus, the shroud 13 is preferably sealed as described above. The shroud 13 may also function as a distance adjusting device. That is, the distance between the nozzle 10 and the outer edge 14 of the shroud 13 may generally correspond to the ideal distance at which the drug should be sprayed over the target site. Such distance control may be particularly useful when the device is used for transdermal administration of a drug.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a protective cap 15 can be removably attached to the outer end of the shroud 13 to close the open spout 16 of the shroud 13 (see FIG. 3). have. The cap 15 is removed when trying to operate the pump 6 and returned when the pump is not in use. Any suitable means can be used to releasably attach the cap 15. One of them is provided for snap coupling between the cap 15 and the shroud 13. For example, the outer circumferential rib 17 or lug formed on the inner surface of the side wall 21 of the cap 15 may be snapped into the outer circumferential rib 19 formed on the shroud 13 (see FIG. 3). .

In the arrangement shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the application device 1 is provided with means for closing the nozzle 10 when the device is not in use. Any suitable means can be used for this. However, in the arrangements shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the nozzle closing means comprises a member 20 attached to the end wall 21 of the cap 15. This member is preferably in the form of an elongated stem extending in the same direction as the side wall 21 in the axial direction of the cap 15, as shown. The length of the member 20 is the length by which the outer end 22 can be engaged within and / or around the outlet of the nozzle 10 when the cap 15 is properly positioned in place on the shroud 13. .

In the preferred arrangement shown, the end wall 21 of the cap 15 is flexible, and the member 20 is wall 21 outward when the cap 15 is properly disposed on the shroud 13. It is the length to bend. That is, when the stem end 22 is engaged in or around the nozzle 10 outlet, if the wall 21 is not bent outwardly, the rib 17 and the rib 19 can be properly cooperatively engaged. none. The outwardly bent state is indicated by dashed lines in an exaggerated form in FIG. 7. When the wall 21 is bent outwardly, it is elastically distorted to develop internal stresses in the wall 21. The elasticity of the wall 21 returns to an undistorted state to relieve internal stresses, but this return is prevented by the column strength of the member 20. As a result, the member 20 is arranged in a compressed state, and as a result, a closing force is applied between the end 22 of the member 20 and the nozzle 10. The degree of curvature is preferably predetermined so that a suitable closing force is applied between the end 22 of the member 20 and the nozzle 10.

FIG. 7 is a view of the end wall 21 having a configuration that is bent outward when not stressed. It is not necessarily a curved configuration. For example, the wall 21 can be flattened as shown in FIG. 9 when not in stress.

The sealing effect between the stem end 22 and the nozzle 10 can be improved by providing the end 22 with a sealing means such as an elastic sealing means. As an alternative, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the sealing means may comprise a relatively thin circular sealing lip 23 having a generally axially extending flexibility of the member 20. Other types of sealing means can be employed. In addition, the sealing means may be provided on the nozzle 10 rather than the member 20, or may be provided on both the member 20 and the nozzle 10.

8 is a diagram illustrating a sealing arrangement between the nozzle 20 and the member 20 that has proven to be satisfactory in practice. As shown, the end 22 of the member 20 is shaped to provide a sealing lip 23. The radially inner surface 24 of the lip 23 is inclined inward and rearward to provide a sealing surface that functions as described below. A cavity 25 functioning as described later is formed in the member 20 immediately behind the lip 23.

As shown in FIG. 8, the nozzle passage 12 exits through the surface 26 of the nozzle 10 opposite the end of the member 20. Surface 26 is surrounded by a conical surface 27 that is generally complementary to surface 24 of sealing lip 23. A recess 28 for receiving the sealing lip 23 is formed between the truncated surface 27 and the peripheral cylindrical surface 29. The surface 29 is preferably dimensioned so that a gap can occur between the surface and the stem end 22 when the stem end 22 is positioned in the recess 28.

The nozzle 10 is closed when the surface 24 of the sealing lip 23 is pressed against the nozzle face 27. As described above, the sealing lip 23 has a degree of curvature that acts to ensure a satisfactory sealing bond between the surface 24 and the surface 27.

The cavity 25 has been found to be useful because of the air space provided past the nozzle face 26. In the absence of this air space, it has been found that the stored drug can seep out of the discharge end of the nozzle passage 12 due to capillary action. It is to be understood that other arrangements may be employed to avoid drug loss. In addition, a sealing configuration other than the configuration particularly shown in FIG. 8 may be adopted.

Guidance means may be provided to guide the distal end 23 of the member 20 to the correct position to engage the nozzle 10. The guiding means can also act to minimize the damage of the sealing lip 23 when the lip 23 is disposed on the shroud 13. In the exemplary arrangement shown, the guiding means comprises a truncated conical guide passage 30 which extends outwardly from and surrounds the outlet 11 of the actuator button 9 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). As shown in FIG. 3, the passage 30 increases in cross-sectional dimension in a direction away from the opening 11.

Instead of using nozzle closing means as described above, the device 1 may be provided with means which allow the dosing system of the pump 6 to be initialized in preparation for metered drug administration. One possible form of initialization means is shown in FIG. 9. In this example, an absorbent pad or wad 31 is provided on the inner surface of the cap end wall 21 that does not need to bend outward as shown in FIG. 7. The pump 6 is initialized by operating the pump 6 such that the stored drug is sprayed on the wedge 31 while the cap 15 is disposed over the open spout of the shroud 13. It is generally necessary to squeeze the button 9 to the maximum at least once so that satisfactory initialization is achieved, and more than one maximum squeezing may be necessary. The initialization operation may be performed while the cap 15 is fixed to the shroud 13 or is in a removed state from the shroud 13. However, the cap 15 is preferably supported relatively close to the outer end of the shroud 13 when the shroud is removed. The wade 31 can be removed from the cap 15 so that it can be replaced with a new one, if necessary.

If desired, an observation window 32 may be provided on the body 2 side for the user to see as the drug contained in the capsule 4 gradually decreases (see FIGS. 4 and 6).

It will be clearly understood from the foregoing description that the dosage device according to the invention has the ability to discharge the entirety of the drug meter each time the device is operated. In one aspect of the invention, the result is achieved by effectively closing the outlet nozzle when the device is not in use. In another aspect, the result is achieved by providing a means to initialize the pump prior to normal use.

The construction and arrangement of the components described above may be variously modified, modified and / or added without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims (36)

A hand-held device for administering a drug and applying the drug to the skin of a host, The apparatus is connected to a hollow body, a drug capsule mounted within the body, the container for the drug forming part of the capsule, a spray nozzle, the interior of the container and operable to be operable to meter a meter of the drug through the nozzle. Means, and closure means selectively operable to open and close the nozzle to control discharge of the drug from the capsule; Dosing device. The method of claim 1, The nozzle has an outlet passage, The closure means comprises a closure member operative to close the outlet passageway by engaging against a surface around the outlet end of the passageway. Dosing device. The method of claim 2, And force inducing means operable to apply a closing force to the closure member when the member is engaged with the surface. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, And a shroud defining a space for receiving the drug exiting the outlet passageway. The method of claim 4, wherein The shroud has a spout open at an outer end spaced outward from the nozzle, Wherein the shroud defines the discharged drug to be transversely applied while the drug passes from the nozzle to the open spout. The method of claim 5, The shroud is generally conical in shape, The space gradually increases in dimension towards the open spout. Dosing device. The method of claim 1, The shroud is provided around the space in which the drug is administered by the nozzle, The shroud has a spout open at an outer end spaced outward from the nozzle, The closure means includes a cap attached to the outer end and extending across the open spout to close the spout when the closure means operates to close the nozzle, The cap is detachable from the outer end such that the closure means does not extend across the open spout when operated to open the nozzle. Dosing device. The method of claim 7, wherein The nozzle comprises an outlet passage having an outlet end, The closure means includes an elongated closure member having a first end connected to the cap and a second end coupled with a surface of the nozzle to close the nozzle. Dosing device. The method of claim 8, And force inducing means operable to apply a closing force to the closure member when the member is engaged with the surface. The method of claim 9, The force inducing means comprises a flexible end wall of the cap, The first end of the closure member is connected to a central region of the end wall, The end wall is elastically distorted such that the closure member is placed in a compressed state when the cap is attached to the outer end of the shroud and the closure member is engaged with the surface. Dosing device. The method of claim 10, And the cap can be releasably snapped to the outer end of the shroud. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 11, The distance between the nozzle and the outer end of the shroud is predetermined such that the shroud is used to adjust the distance between the nozzle and the target site to which the drug is to be administered. The method of claim 12, Dosage device wherein the dimensions of the open spout are substantially the same as the dimensions of the target site. The method according to any one of claims 2, 3, and 8 to 11, And a guide member is provided adjacent the nozzle to receive at least a portion of the closure member to guide the member to engage with the surface accurately when the closure member is operative to close the nozzle. The method according to any one of claims 2, 3, 8 to 11, and 14, And the closure member is provided with a flexible sealing means that engages against the surface when the closure member operates to close the nozzle. The method of claim 15, And the sealing means comprises a flexible circular sealing lip surrounding the outlet end of the passage when combined with the surface. The method of claim 16, A dosage device is provided in the closure member to communicate with the outlet end when the sealing means and the surface are engaged. A hand-held device for administering a drug and applying the drug to the skin of a host, The device is connected to a hollow body, a drug capsule mounted within the body, the container for the drug forming a part of the capsule, a spray nozzle, the interior of the container such that a meter of drug is dispensed in the form of a spray through the nozzle. Actuator means operable, and absorbent means operable to be disposed in alignment with the nozzle and, when so arranged, to absorb a meter amount of the drug dosed through the nozzle during at least a first of a series of operations of the actuator means Including, The apparatus further comprises an actuator mounted on the body and operable to operate the pump, The absorbing means is releasable from the alignment so that the drug to be dosed through the nozzle is sufficiently filled during the subsequent operation of the series of actuation of the actuator means. Dosing device. The method of claim 18, Including a cap member, The absorbent means comprises an absorbent pad attached to the cap member, The cap member may be removably connected to a portion of the device such that the pad is positioned within the passage of the drug to be administered through the nozzle. Dosing device. The method of claim 19, Said portion of said device is a shroud extending around the space in which said drug is administered by said nozzle, The shroud has a spout open at an outer end spaced outward from the nozzle, The cap may be removably connected to the outer end Dosing device. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, And absorbing means positioned in alignment with the nozzle, the absorbing means operable to absorb a pre-use amount of the drug dosed through the nozzle during at least a first of a series of actuation of the actuator means when so positioned; , The absorbing means may be released from the alignment so that a sufficient amount of drug to be dosed through the nozzle is provided during a subsequent operation of the series of actuation of the actuator means. Dosing device. The method of claim 21, Including a cap member, The absorbent means comprises an absorbent pad attached to the cap member, The cap member may be removably connected to a portion of the device such that the pad is positioned within the passage of the drug to be administered through the nozzle. Dosing device. The method of claim 22, And the pad is releasably attached to the cap member. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 13 and 20, And the shroud provides a sealing wall around the space. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 24, And the capsule is removably mounted in the hollow body. The method of claim 25, And the body includes two detachable parts each forming a portion of a chamber in which the capsul is mounted therein. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 26, The actuator means comprises a pump connected to both the nozzle and the interior of the container and operative to cause the drug to be discharged from the container and the discharged drug to be discharged in a spray form through the nozzle. The method of claim 27, And the actuator means comprises a button movably mounted on the body and operable to operate the pump. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 26, The actuator means comprises a valve, The drug in the container is compressed, The valve is selectively operable to allow the interior of the container to be connected to the nozzle, whereby the drug can be dispersed in the form of an aerosol. Dosing device. The method of claim 29, And the actuator means comprises a button movably mounted on the body and selectively operable to open the valve. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 30, Wherein the drug comprises a physiologically active solution and an accelerator selected such that the active agent is well absorbed through the skin of the host. The method of claim 31, wherein Dosing device comprises a volatile solvent. 33. The method of claim 31 or 32, The accelerator is a nonvolatile dosage device. The method of claim 33, wherein The accelerator is octyl salicylic acid. The method according to any one of claims 2, 3, 8 to 11, and 14 to 17, Wherein the surface is a truncated surface and is engageable by a generally complementary surface of the closure member. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 35, The body is arranged so that it can be held by the user's hand, has a main axis extending across the user's finger when the hand is gripped, the nozzle is arranged so that the drug is administered in the yellow direction with respect to the main axis .